Visit the college's website: College websites provide information about admission criteria, tuition fees, academic programs, student life, campus culture, and faculty experience. This can be a great way to get an overview of what to expect from the institution.
Research faculty experience and qualifications: When researching potential schools, take time to research the qualifications and experience of faculty members within departments that are important for you. Review faculty biographies or websites to learn about their research fields, projects they have worked on in the past, and awards or honors they have received
Utilize common search databases: Common search data bases like Big Future (a college search tool by The College Board), Niche.com, Loper or Cappex are helpful for narrowing down your options. These tools allow you to input criteria such as location, size of school, program offerings and cost into a search engine that will generate results tailored to your needs.
Explore student life: Understanding the campus culture is just as important as examining the academic components of a college education. Visit the school's website or social media accounts to get a feel for what it would be like to live there day-to-day—including extracurricular activities offered, local attractions and student clubs or organizations available on campus.
Reach out to admissions: Once you've narrowed down your list of potential colleges, don't forget to contact their admissions office directly with any questions you may have about admission requirements or special programs catered towards your interests or talents. Faculty members may also be available for informational interviews if there is something specific you'd like to learn more about from an expert in the field!
